A program generating apparatus includes a machining program generating unit configured to generate a machining program for controlling a wire electrical discharge machine so as to machine a workpiece in accordance with a machining shape of the workpiece input by a user and so as to fix a core which is produced when the workpiece is machined, to the workpiece. In the program generating apparatus, a core handling program generating unit generates a core handling program for controlling a robot so as to remove the core from the workpiece by applying an impact to the core in accordance with the input machining shape of the workpiece.

A program generating apparatus includes a machining program generating unit configured to generate a machining program for controlling a wire electrical discharge machine so as to machine a workpiece in accordance with a machining shape of the workpiece input by a user and so as to fix a core which is produced when the workpiece is machined, to the workpiece. In the program generating apparatus, a core handling program generating unit generates a core handling program for controlling a robot so as to remove the core from the workpiece by applying an impact to the core in accordance with the input machining shape of the workpiece.

A method of controlling a working gap between one or more cathodic tools and an anodic workpiece in an electrochemical material dissolution process, the method comprising: providing a cathodic tool and an anodic workpiece defining a working gap therebetween, the cathodic tool and the workpiece being at least partially immersed in a conductive electrolyte solution; providing a negative electrical potential to the cathodic tool; monitoring one or more of the electrical potential, current, current density and charge between the cathodic tool and the anode to determine the working gap between the cathodic tool and the anode; and, controlling one or more process parameters to maintain one or more of the working gap and electrochemical working conditions between the cathodic tool and anodic workpiece at a targeted value.

A method of controlling a working gap between one or more cathodic tools and an anodic workpiece in an electrochemical material dissolution process, the method comprising: providing a cathodic tool and an anodic workpiece defining a working gap therebetween, the cathodic tool and the workpiece being at least partially immersed in a conductive electrolyte solution; providing a negative electrical potential to the cathodic tool; monitoring one or more of the electrical potential, current, current density and charge between the cathodic tool and the anode to determine the working gap between the cathodic tool and the anode; and, controlling one or more process parameters to maintain one or more of the working gap and electrochemical working conditions between the cathodic tool and anodic workpiece at a targeted value.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a mounting table having a placement plane on which a workpiece can be placed; a first guide portion and a second guide portion for stretching a wire electrode therebetween. The first guide portion is integrally equipped with a probe. The relative position in the placement plane between the probe detecting its abutment with the workpiece and the first guide portion before moving the relative position between the first guide portion and the second guide portion is stored as an offset. This offset is corrected based on the tilt information indicating the tilt state of the workpiece relative to the placement plane. Thus, it is possible to obtain the corrected offset in accordance with the tilt state of the workpiece after changing the relative position between the first guide portion and the second guide portion.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a mounting table having a placement plane on which a workpiece can be placed; a first guide portion and a second guide portion for stretching a wire electrode therebetween. The first guide portion is integrally equipped with a probe. The relative position in the placement plane between the probe detecting its abutment with the workpiece and the first guide portion before moving the relative position between the first guide portion and the second guide portion is stored as an offset. This offset is corrected based on the tilt information indicating the tilt state of the workpiece relative to the placement plane. Thus, it is possible to obtain the corrected offset in accordance with the tilt state of the workpiece after changing the relative position between the first guide portion and the second guide portion.

A control device includes: a control unit configured to control a main processing machine by replacing a machining shape on a machining surface of a workpiece specified in a program with a shape corresponding to an enlargement/reduction ratio and replacing a fixing distance for a core specified in the program with a distance corresponding to the enlargement/reduction ratio for the machining shape of the workpiece and a plate thickness ratio between the workpieces.

A control device includes: a control unit configured to control a main processing machine by replacing a machining shape on a machining surface of a workpiece specified in a program with a shape corresponding to an enlargement/reduction ratio and replacing a fixing distance for a core specified in the program with a distance corresponding to the enlargement/reduction ratio for the machining shape of the workpiece and a plate thickness ratio between the workpieces.

In a wire electric discharge machine of the present invention, a control variable detection apparatus is an inter-pole voltage detection apparatus and detects an average inter-pole voltage as a control variable correlating with an inter-pole distance. The wire electric discharge machine comprises a machining feed speed calculation apparatus determining a machining feed speed on the basis of a deviation between target voltage set by a target value setting apparatus 7 and the average inter-pole voltage so as to eliminate the deviation. The wire electric discharge machine further comprises a feed speed distribution apparatus and a relative movement apparatus. The inter-pole distance can be kept constant by the relative movement of a wire electrode and a workpiece made on the basis of a command of thus determined machining feed speed.

In a wire electric discharge machine of the present invention, a control variable detection apparatus is an inter-pole voltage detection apparatus and detects an average inter-pole voltage as a control variable correlating with an inter-pole distance. The wire electric discharge machine comprises a machining feed speed calculation apparatus determining a machining feed speed on the basis of a deviation between target voltage set by a target value setting apparatus 7 and the average inter-pole voltage so as to eliminate the deviation. The wire electric discharge machine further comprises a feed speed distribution apparatus and a relative movement apparatus. The inter-pole distance can be kept constant by the relative movement of a wire electrode and a workpiece made on the basis of a command of thus determined machining feed speed.